KUALA LUMPUR: Education is the strongest defence against ignorance, division and fear, says Universiti Malaya (UM) vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Seri Dr Noor Azuan Abu Osman.
He called for a global renewal of approach to education and research in an increasingly divided world.
“As the world faces growing nationalism, misinformation and division, universities must make education a force that unites rather than divides,” he said.
He urged universities and research communities to move beyond narrow lenses of ethnicity, nationality and discipline to create “a new intellectual ecology” that connects cultures, economies and societies.
Amid growing global disruption, he warned that today’s crisis is not a lack of knowledge but a lack of wisdom in applying it.
“As migration, integration and identity become universal struggles, academia must evolve from passive observation to active engagement.
“If academic studies merely document without direction, it risks irrelevance,” he said at the opening of the 12th International Conference of the International Society for the Study of Chinese Overseas (ISSCO) yesterday.
Highlighting Malaysia’s unique position at the crossroads of Indian, Malay, Chinese, Arab and Western civilisations, Prof Noor Azuan described this diversity as the nation’s greatest strength.
“We must reclaim this advantage by positioning Malaysia and UM as a global nexus for intercultural dialogue, migration studies and human mobility research that transcends boundaries,” he said.
While the world pours resources into conflict and not learning, he said academia must reclaim its moral purpose.
In an age of misinformation and polarisation, he called for a return to academic integrity and intellectual courage.
“Knowledge must once again serve humanity – not ideology, not politics, not pride – but the search for truth and the betterment of humankind,” he said, urging scholars to “rehumanise” knowledge, reinvest in education and understanding, and rebuild global solidarity.
He said the real measure of academic studies is not based on the number of publications but in its ability to influence minds, shape policies and build understanding.
Prof Noor Azuan concluded by framing the journey of the Chinese overseas as a metaphor for the broader human experience – a story of adaptability and resilience in a world of constant change.
“The future will not be kind to those who remain comfortable. It will reward those who dare to think ahead, who build knowledge that unites and who uphold values that endure,” he said.
